The Perfect S’more

How would you make the perfect s’more? Burnt to a crisp? Lightly toasted? Roasted in the embers to a deep golden brown? And that’s just the marshmallow. The classic recipe calls for graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate, but that’s merely a baseline for you creatively to run wild with. However you set about constructing your…

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AmeriCorps Volunteers

For several seasons now, Westwind has worked with AmeriCorps to provide community service opportunities to young people. AmeriCorps is a federal agency aimed at providing service-based opportunities and helping aid local communities. Their mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering (AmeriCorps Website). Westwind hosts AmeriCorps volunteers to…

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Westwind Receives Grant For Inclusive Bathroom Project

Westwind Stewardship Group Receives $1,055,540 Grant from Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School Program We are thrilled to announce that we have received a generous grant totaling $1,055,540 from the Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School Program (OSUE ODS) for crucial upgrades to improve access and inclusivity for the Westwind bathhouse (Cascade Head)…

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The Tremulous History of the Oregon Coast

low lying marshlands in the foreground, cascade head rise in the background

What secrets lie in the depths of coastal soil? This is a question that researchers from Virginia Tech visiting Westwind attempted to answer. Traversing the edges of Westwind, they traveled to the eastern tip of the Salmon River estuary. These researchers used long metal rods to pull layered samples from the river bank. The soil…

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Staff Training Wrap-Up

two staff pose as they walk on the sang

Westwind Summer Staff Training wrapped up last weekend. Let’s dive into staff training to learn what happens during training to prepare our amazing staff for their summer! The Basics Staff training is ten days long and is packed full of team-building exercises, training led by communication professionals, and extensive practice on how to be a…

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Visitor’s Day Recap

A group of people stand on a metal river ferry

It was another successful Visitor’s Day. The 2024 Visitor’s Day welcomed guests from across the Westwind community. From summer campers and community members to former ODS Student Leaders and staff families, many members of the Westwind community were present. Our summer staff and board members were out and about. They greeted over 200 people who…

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Welcome to Camp Westwind

Summer camp is right around the corner! It’s going to be another incredible summer at Westwind. From camping under the stars and making new discoveries at the tidepools to making new friends and singing camp songs until you’re out of breath, a week at Westwind is an experience to remember. But just because it will…

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ACA’s Camp Hill Days event

Last week, our Buisness Director Sarah took Westwind on the road. As part of a contingent from the American Camp Association (ACA), Sarah met with legislators on Capitol Hill and advocated for camps across the country. Sarah was one of 80 camp professionals and campers from 29 states who participated in the ACA’s Camp Hill…

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Fraser Farm Conservation is Underway

Next time you visit Westwind, you may notice something different. The field at Fraser Farm, where you may have parked last time you visited Westwind, is currently brown. This change in color marks the beginning of a five-year process to restore the area around Fraser Farm to native coastal prairie habitat.  What Is Happening We…

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Raindrop to Sea Trail

three men pose for a picture, two hold their children, the one in the middle holds a commemorative sign

At our Earth Day Celebration, we officially opened phase one of the Raindrop to Sea Trail. Leaders from Westwind, Trail Keepers of Oregon (TKO), and Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative (CHBC) joined Earth Day visitors to celebrate the historic opening of this trail. Commemoration The Raindrop to Sea Trail was officially opened after lunch during Westwind’s…

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